Investigator

Warner Bros. Discovery•Burbank, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Labor Relations Department seeks a Lead Investigator for the Production Workplace Investigations (“PWI”) team, a unit within the Labor Relations Department. PWI’s function is to conduct objective, balanced, and thorough investigations into complaints of alleged misconduct by or about production employees. These employees are mainly located in North America, and represented by a variety of industry unions, including, but not limited to, WGA, DGA, DGC, SAG-AFTRA, UBCP/ACTRA, IATSE, IBEW, Teamsters, Laborers, AFM, etc. The nature of employee complaints include, but are not limited to, harassment & discrimination; insubordination; bullying or hostile work environment; retaliation; drugs & alcohol; conflict of interest; verbal altercations; threats and violence in the workplace; misappropriation of company property or theft. PWI promotes and advocates for consistency of resolutions and disciplinary action following an investigation and partners with Employment Counsel, People & Culture Partners, and other key stakeholders to resolve complex employment issues. Until further notice from WBD People & Culture, employees are expected to work in the office three (3) days per week and have the option to work remotely two (2) days per week. All video conference meetings and calls must utilize both video and audio, excluding any investigatory interviews that the interviewee requests otherwise.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience is required. Juris Doctor (J.D.) preferred.
At least three years of relevant work experience
Understanding of employment law is required
Must have operative knowledge of federal/local laws governing employment issues
Must be able to exercise discretion and keep information strictly confidential
Must be able to handle investigations with complete objectivity and consistency
Must be able to handle multiple investigations, projects, and tasks simultaneously
Must be able to independently organize, prioritize, and schedule work effectively
Must have excellent follow-through and a strong sense of urgency
Must be able to work well under time constraints
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
Must be able pay close attention to detail and understand written and oral instructions
Must have strong verbal and written communication skills
Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with persons on all levels
Must be able to utilize diplomacy, assertiveness, and adaptability when interacting with senior executives throughout the organization
Must be able to handle difficult/highly emotional personalities
Must be able to exercise keen judgment when analyzing and resolving employment-related issues

Nice To Haves

Understanding of the production environment is beneficial, but not required

Responsibilities

Independently develops investigation strategies for assigned complaints, including:
Creating tailored interview questions for complainants, respondents, witnesses, and other relevant parties.
Coordinating with departments such as Security, Leave of Absence, and Compliance on related issues (e.g., threat assessments, ADA/FMLA, conflicts of interest).
Conducting unbiased fact-finding and reaching a more-likely-than-not conclusion based on evidence.
Prepare and deliver clear, comprehensive investigatory outcome reports to stakeholders.
Analyze findings and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions based on company policies, practices, and the nature of the misconduct.
Issue disciplinary outcomes such as warnings, suspensions, demotions, training requirements, EAP referrals, layoffs, or terminations.
Draft tailored documentation or conditional employment agreements for each investigation.